Improved apparatus for generating gas for illuminating



S. N. GHAMBERLIN. APPARATUS FOR GENERATING GAS FOR ILLUMINATING.

No. 52,946. Patented Feb; 2.7, 1866.

B A v, a I w v 722%mm- V 122ml? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL N. OHAMBERLIN, OF ABINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR GENERATING GAS FOR ILLUMINATING.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 52,946, dated February27, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL N. CHAMBER- LIN, of Abington, in the countyof Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented an ImprovedApparatus for Generating Gas for Illuminating Purposes, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, inwhich- Figure 1 represents a perspective View of my improved apparatus,one side being removed to show the construction of the interior. Fig. 2is a longitudinal vertical section through the same.

My invention consists in a reservoir provided with cells or receptaclesplaced one above the other, which contain gasoline or other lightergrades of hydrocarbon oils,- an opening being made in the top of thereservoir for the entrance of air, which mixes with the vapor arisingfrom the gasoline and forms a cheap gas of superior illuminatingqualities in a convenient and expeditious manner.

' To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use myinvention, 1 will now proceed to describe the manner in which I havecarried it out.

In the said drawings, A is a reservoir provided with cells orreceptacles a of the size required for the quantity of gas to begenerated. These receptacles are constructed in the form of shallowpans, and are soldered or otherwise secured in place parallel to and ata short distance from each other within the reservoir A,

their length being such as to extend nearly across the reservoir,leaving a .space, b, between-the side 3 of each receptacle and alternatesides of the reservoir, the top of which is provided with an opening, 0,through which is poured the fluid to be converted into gas, and thisopening 0 also forms a passage for the air to enter the reservoir andcirculate freely through the spaces between the cells or receptacles awithin it.

A pipe, (I, proceeds from the bottom of the vent any fluid which mayflow over the lower receptacle from running down into the pipe.

to mix with the volatile fluid which arises from the gasoline in thereceptacles. The gas thus formed, being heavier than air, flows downthrough the spaces b and between the several receptacles, as indicatedby the arrows, Fig.

2, to the bottom of the reservoir, whence it,

passes through the pipe at to the burners.

A glass or window may be placed near the bottom of the reservoir, bymeans of which I am enabled to ascertain when a sufficient quantity ofthe fluid has been poured in to fill the several receptacles a, and I amalso enabled to observe when they require to be refilled.

The apparatus above described is simple in construction, and may bereadily fitted up in any apartment, so as to produce a beautiful andexceedingly cheap light.

I am aware that reservoirs with pans or equivalent devices for "holdinghydrocarbon fluids have been made for carbureting air, but it has beenwith the design of having the air forced through them, and the passageof the air through them has been obstructed by stopcocks, wire screens,perforated plates, or the like, so as to regulate the flow. No suchapparatus will consequently allow the air to flow through it withsuflicient freedom and in sufficient quantity where the current isproduced by the mere superior gravity of the carburcted air.

I am also aware that others claim to have carburete'd air by means ofapparatus in which theair was carried over the surface of thehydrocarbon fluid through the operation of the superior gravity of theair so charged; but the apparatus was differentin its construction andprinciple trom that above described, and has not accomplished theobject.

Others, also, have employed apparatus still more nearly resembling thatabove described, but having fewer pans and a discharge-pipe in the formof a siphon, through which no current can be produced until by someextrane- .ous means the air charged with the gasoline or otherhydrocarbon has been forced into the siphon, so as to fill the longer orouter leg, and if the inner leg hangs too low the orifice is liable tobe'stopped by the fluid, and I find that the desired efiect can only beproduced "do I-claim the apparatus above described, ex-

cept when used and employed as above men'- ti'on'ed and constructed asspecially described; but

Whatl doclaim as my invention,and de sire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The reservoir-pans or shelves contained therein, when constructedwith a discharge pipe and otherwise, as above described, and

used as above described, ibrcarbureting atmospheric air forced throughit by the change produced in such air by this process and by no othermeans.

2. The column or vessel A, with a series of pans, a, openings b, anddischarge-pipe d, as

herein described.

S, N. OHAMBERLIN.

Witnesses P. E. TEsoHEmeHER, N. W. STEARNS.

